Billings Gazette Billings, MT 26 Feb 2007 Mary J. Baker, 90, of Billings, passed away at St. John's Nursing Home on Feb. 23, 2007. She was born on May 16, 1916, to Joseph and Katherine Lechner on their homestead east of Worden. The Lechner family later settled on a small farm on Flycreek. Mary attended school at Fly Creek, Anita and Worden, graduating from Huntley Project High school in 1933 and from St. Vincent's School of Nursing in 1937. Mary's nursing career began at the County Hospital. Mary married Robert Allison Baker, in Oakland, Calif., in June of 1942. While in Oakland Mary worked as a nurse. Bob and Mary moved back to Billings in 1943. Bob died of pneumonia in December of 1943. Roberta was born on Feb. 6, 1944. Roberta died of leukemia on Dec. 13, 1950. Mary liked to travel and traveled to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii as well as traveling in the States. She was able to do this when she was younger and said she was very glad to have been able to do so. Mary continued her nursing career at St. Vincent Hospital. She also worked for Dr. Benson, Dr. Marchello and at Valley Nursing Home. However, running the ranch in Shawmut Mary had inherited from her husband was a big part of her life, and her nursing job helped pay the ranch expenses. She spent many happy hours traveling back and forth to the ranch. The ranch was sold in 2000. Besides her husband and daughter, Mary was preceded in death by her mother and father; brothers, Herman (who died as an infant), Marcus, John and James; sister-in-law, Corinna Lechner; brother-in-law, Earling Haaland and niece, Cindy Lechner. She is survived by sisters, Katherine Haaland, Rose Ellen (Frank) Weber; brothers, Karl (Elaine), Glen (Kate), Charles (Ruth) and Ted (Patty); sister-in-law, Beverly Lechner and numerous nieces and nephews. Mary had recently sold her home in Billings and moved into the Vista at St. John's where she lived until she broke her hip. She then went into St. John's Nursing Home where she passed away. A memorial service will be held at St. Pius Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 2, with Michelotti-Sawyers in charge. Cremation has taken place, and interment will be after the service and reception. Memorials should be send to St. Vincent Foundation or St. John's Lutheran Ministries Mary, above all, loved her Lord, her family, her nursing profession, her ranch and the earth. She gave her whole life with all her heart to all these things.